Turkey Condemns Alleged Russian Air Strikes On Syrian City

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has condemned a suspected Russian military attack on the Syrian city of Idlib, adding Syrian territory will not be part of “Russian imperialist goals.”

Air strikes killed scores of people in the center of the rebel-held city of Idlib in northwest Syria on December 20, rescue workers and residents said.

The air strikes hit a busy market, several government buildings, and apartment blocks.

Russia did not confirm whether it carried out strikes in the area.

Davutoglu said on December 22 that Russia's aerial campaign in Syria had mostly been "targeting moderate opposition groups and civilians," and that Islamic State militants had become "stronger in areas where opposition groups lost power."

Turkey, which has long called for the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has been highly critical of Russia's role in the region. Moscow is a longtime ally of Assad.

Speaking to members of his ruling Justice and Development Party in parliament, Davutoglu also said that military training and equipment support for Iraq will continue until the city of Mosul is liberated.